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Dean’s expression is shocked; I can’t really blame him, either.
“Wait, what?”
Maddie thinks he is talking to her, so she repeats it. Dean’s smile returns as he looks at Eli; at this point, Eli has put Maddie down by a basket of toys he has by his desk. Does he think of everything?
“Right, well, that is one way of telling everyone. Anyways, Dean, this is Maddie, and you might remember Quinn. Quinn, this is Dean, my Beta.” I tentatively wave, getting ready for the judgment I know is about to come.
“Quinn, it’s good to see you again.” That was polite. “So, are you being serious right now? Eli, what is going on?”
He’s confused, because of course he is. Eli walks behind his desk and pulls out some papers, but before too long, he turns to look at Dean.
“You knew I was going to pick up the girl I was talking to, right?” Dean glances at me quickly out of the corner of his eye. He looks nervous. Why would he be nervous?
“Yes, Eli, that is what you said you were doing yesterday. But that doesn’t explain why Quinn is here or how you even found her. No offense.” He is trying to include me, but that’s not necessary; this is all on Eli to explain to his pack.
“Quinn was the shifter I was talking to on that app.”
“What!” He turns to me to confirm this information, so I nod; what else am I supposed to do?
“OK, so that explains that, but—I don’t mean to be rude, but Eli, what is the pup saying? How old is she?”
“Two and a half,” Eli says, and Dean puts all the pieces together.
“No shit. So she really is your pup. Wow.”
“I figured you would be more excited than that, Dean.”
“I am, Alpha! I don’t mean to dampen your excitement, but what will the Elders say? This could become a real mess if we don’t handle it right.”
That’s one of my concerns, too. Eli may think he can protect Maddie and me, but he might have to face his whole pack just to do it. Would he do it? I have my doubts. Past actions show character, and he isn’t known for coming to my defense.
“Listen, Dean, I understand your concern, but Quinn is my true mate, and Maddie is my daughter. I may have a group of Elders to address, but I am still the Alpha, if that wasn’t abundantly clear when I took on and killed the last Alpha.” Eli’s power pulses through the room, and I can feel the conviction in his words. Eli’s wolf is close to the surface, and his power has forced Dean into an almost bowing position, but curiously, not me. His power just seems to wash over me and comfort me; I’m not afraid, though I should be with how upset Eli is. The force calms, and Dean is breathing harder as he straightens up.
“I apologize, Alpha. I am loyal to you, and now I will protect your family with my life.”
Such a declaration is not made lightly. He really is trying to protect us. But I still can’t get my head around him calling us his family. Maddie, sure, but me? We have just found each other again, and I want to hope we can work through this, but I’m scared. The bond between us pulls at me, and I see the gold in Eli’s eyes fade as he stares at me, like he is telling me he will fight this time, and maybe he will.
“Well, that’s good, because we have a problem.”
“What is it?”
“When I picked up Quinn yesterday, she had a vision. I don’t know if you remember, but she comes from an ancient bloodline of psychic shifters.”
“I remember, it’s all Jake could talk about when he was stating the importance of his pack to the council.”
I wince at that, because I know all too well how much Jake coveted the power in my line and how much he wanted me because of it.
“Quinn saw Jake in his office with his Beta. They found her location and were on their way to get her; Jake even threatened my pup. Needless to say, Quinn and Maddie are staying with me, but we need to figure out what is happening in that pack and what Jake has planned. He is a wolf with a bone, and he will not just give Quinn up.”
“Of course, Eli. I have a few contacts in the pack and can look at getting some more information about what’s happening. But Jake is unpredictable; even his Beta has no clue what’s happening.”
“I know, do what you can.”
“You got it.” Dean walks over to me and places his hand on my shoulder.
“Everything will be OK, Quinn; we will protect you. Glad he found you two—he’s been a grumpy ass for the past couple of years.”
“I have not!”
